Weld County health care worker wins first million-dollar vaccination prize

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DENVER — Colorado has its newest millionaire.

Sally Sliger, a health care worker from Mead, in Weld County, is the first winner of “Colorado Comeback Cash,” a drawing in which five vaccinated Coloradans will each win $1 million.

[Related: Colorado to randomly award $1 million to 5 vaccinated adults, and $50k to 25 vaccinated teens]

Sliger and her husband, Chris, joined Governor Jared Polis for a press conference June 4 where she was introduced as the winner.

Though she was clearly happy to have won the prize, Sliger spent much of her time at the press conference espousing the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“I encourage everyone to get vaccinated, because of the freedoms this vaccine has provided for me, my family and my community,” she said. “A stable future after the last year that we’ve had is worth all the money in the world. But, of course it doesn’t hurt to take your chance at a million dollars as well.”

You can watch the full press conference below.

Sliger was born in Colorado and has lived in Mead for over 20 years. She said she has raised her sons there, and plans to use the money to support them and save for retirement.

“I’m still having a hard time believing our luck of the draw,” she said.

Polis signs the commemorative husband for Sally Sliger and her husband Chris.

Sliger works as a clinical data analyst for TRU Community Care in Lafayette. The organization offers hospice services for people in and around Boulder County.

“I’ve worked in health care for years, and we have never seen such pain and devastation that has come along with this pandemic,” Sliger said.

“This is the gift we have right now,” she said of the vaccine, “and it’s the gift that keeps giving.”

Asked how she was notified that she was the winner, Sliger said she received a text on Wednesday from an employee at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). Sliger called the number and was told that she would win $1 million, so long as she was eligible.

The million-dollar drawing is only for Coloradans 18 years old and up. Polis said the odds of winning one of the five drawings is about 1 in 500,000. 

The next winner will be announced Friday, June 11.